It's all about bread today. On the
show I'm making a delicious Italian bread and tasty herbed butter to go
with it. These can be combined as a delightful gift from you kitchen.

For the bread you'll need:

1 package active dry yeast

1 ½ tsp sugar

½ cup warm water

1/3 cup hot water

3 Tbs. butter

1 tsp salt

3 cups flour

Start by combining the yeast, sugar
and warm water in a bowl and stirring until smooth. Then combine the hot
water with the butter and stir until melted, then add the salt. Put the
butter mixture in with the yeast mixture and begin adding your flour.
Add it by degrees until the dough begins to come away from the sides of
the bowl. You're then ready for kneading. Turn the dough out onto a
floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes or until the dough
responds to your touch by springing back when you poke it. Now we baked
ours in a tubular pan which required us to flatten out the dough and
then roll it into a log. You can repeat that technique and then bake it
on a cookie sheet or bake it in a loaf pan. Either way you'll want the
dough to rise in a warm draft free place until it's doubled in size -
about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Bake it in 425 degree oven for about
10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 and bake for an additional 35
minutes. Remove bread to a rack to cool.

For the butter you'll need:

One stick of butter, softened

Juice of one lemon

Two tablespoons of chopped chives

Place all ingredients in a bowl and
combine well with a fork. Remove to a sheet of wax paper and form into a
log. Twist the ends of the wax paper and place in the fridge to firm
up.

These recipes are just delicious
together and, as I said above, make a lovely gift when combined in a
basket.

Be sure and include a card with the recipe, the recipient will
undoubtedly want some more!

Hello people, it’s all about cards today! On the show I’m showing you how to make delightful card themed sandwiches. I put them together for a bridge luncheon we had on my original cable access show. They’re ever so simple. Here’s how:

Start by stacking your sandwich, then place your cookie cutters on top and press down very firmly until you’ve separated the shape from the rest of the sandwich. Open top tin type cookie cutters work best for this because they’re sharp enough to cut through all layers. Remove the sandwich from the cutter and trim off any stragglers with a scissors. The bottom of what you’ve just cut will be the top of the sandwich. Finish by garnishing with a sliced olive speared with a toothpick. These can be made with all different types of cookie cutters for all different occasions. Keep in mind, however, the more elaborate the shape the more difficult it will be to cut the sandwich – the club is the most complicated of the suits to cut.

Hint: If you want to add condiments to your sandwich, do it after they’re cut. The layers slip around too much if you’ve dressed it before you attempt to cut them.

Well, it’s time once again to settle in to a post holiday schedule. Many people release the stress of the holidays by getting a cold. My show this week is all about caring for someone in that situation. Here are some tips for making the circumstances easier.

Reading material like magazines and books can be kept in a new wastepaper basket. The corralled publications can be easily pulled up on the bed to be retrieved or put away.

Instead of a tray, use muffin tins for serving meals in bed. The cups are perfect for holding the various courses of the meal and things won’t slide around or spill.

If the flavor the medicine is less than appealing an ice cube on the tongue will numb the taste buds and make medicating less unpleasant.

Standard sized newspapers can be a bit much to handle when stuck in bed. Split them down the middle to make them easier to deal with.

One of the least pleasant aspects to being incapacitated is the difficulty of bathing, and forget about washing your hair. This can be accomplished more easily by putting your subject in a plastic rain poncho. Place it on them backwards so the hood can be used as a pocket for the shampoo and conditioner. Then attach a sprayer to your kitchen or bathroom spigot and you’re all set.

As you saw in the show I let my self get a little carried away with these tips to the expense of Mary Ellen’s sanity. I would advise you to keep your head about you, even though the circumstances of taking care of a cranky sick person can be a bit trying at times…

About Me

Described as America’s Domestic Doyenne, Brini is one part Sue Anne Nivens, one part Martha Stewart, with a dash of Dear Abby. Maxwell pulls the class from the past through her unparalleled personal flair for interior design, sewing and crafts, renovation,
entertaining, cooking, modern etiquette and savvy household tips.